I'm curious to hear people's theories on why the Swede Gillette blades in particular are sharper than G. blades in other countries?
perhaps better quality steel is available locally? or just better quality control and work ethics. Whatever it is, there is no question that it is a better quality blade than their US blades
perhaps better quality steel is available locally? or just better quality control and work ethics. Whatever it is, there is no question that it is a better quality blade than their US blades
Randal Made Knives of Orlando FLA used to tout their use of Swedish steel. Now they say their carbon blades are made from 01 tool steel. Not sure if it is from Sweden. They were very proud of their Swedish blades though.I remember, years ago, as a budding young musician, meeting a former percussionist with the NBC Symphony and NY Philharmonic. He showed me much of his equipment, but was the proudest of a small set of orchestra bells. "See that? Hear that tone, the attack and the presence? That's because these are made of Swedish Steel!" He swore by the stuff.
I suspect if the Swiss used Swedish Steel in their army knives, we'd know them as sharp, decent pieces of cutlery, instead of amusing collections of useful tools. I once Drove a piece of Swedish Steel, a Volvo 240. The steel in in was just fine, but I'm not sure the Swedes are 100% "up" on electrical systems!
It would be an interesting study to look at this-- what would make Swedish Steel different than any other...
O1 is type of tool steel originally used for making precision drill bits used in CNC macines and other macines used to cut metal, it has a high carbon content, with a very uniform displacement of the carbon crystals. It primarily produced in the USA. It is a superior steel, but it is not as corosion resistant as some other tool steels. It takes a keen edge and it's edge holding capability is exceptional. If I remember the Swedish steel that Randall was using was a Sandvik stainless steel. Sandvik steel company is known for it's quality controls. They put out product that is consistent and with very little impurities. I think this might be the reason that the Swedish blades are better than the American blades. The steel that Gillette receives in Sweden is probably more consistent in it properties than the product received by the American factory.
What with Gillette's murky manufacturing lines, how do we know that the blades are even manufactured in Sweden? Sure they are distributed from there, maybe even packed, but how do we know that they're pressed, honed and spluttered in Sweden, let alone produced from local steel?
Or have I missed something...
What with Gillette's murky manufacturing lines, how do we know that the blades are even manufactured in Sweden? Sure they are distributed from there, maybe even packed, but how do we know that they're pressed, honed and spluttered in Sweden, let alone produced from local steel?
Or have I missed something...
Guys, I was in the local Rite Aid and saw a 10pk of Russian Gillettes.... for the low, low price of........$9.99
With prices like these, I can see why DE shaving went the way of the dinosaurs in mainstream America
Well, that is an interesting idea. But, the point is that people seem to think that Swedish Gilette blades are sharper (or the sharpest) of all Gil. DE blades. So, if they are not made in Sweden, this could mean either that its simply power of suggestion, i.e. people THINK that the Swedish blades are made of good steel therefore they percieve a good shave. Or that the blades are indeed made somewhere else (say Japan for example) but are still better than the other Gil. blades regardless.
Well, that is an interesting idea. But, the point is that people seem to think that Swedish Gilette blades are sharper (or the sharpest) of all Gil. DE blades. So, if they are not made in Sweden, this could mean either that its simply power of suggestion, i.e. people THINK that the Swedish blades are made of good steel therefore they percieve a good shave. Or that the blades are indeed made somewhere else (say Japan for example) but are still better than the other Gil. blades regardless.
They are definitely sharper and more importantly smoother then any other blade I have tried. I am not sure now that the packaging has changed if anyone can figure out where they are made...... or even if they are the same. I haven't tried any of the new ones but they were the superior blade IMHO and I hope that they still are.